Waseda WeeklyWaseda Weekly

Potential social media troubles in student life

Social media (SNS, blogs, etc.) and email play an essential role in student life. You may be engaging in actions that could lead to trouble without realizing it. In fact, troubles related to SNS and email occur frequently at Waseda University​.

Let's take a look at the five cases we will introduce below and take a look at your own life to see if you are engaging in these kinds of behavior.

Case 1: The content of today's lecture was interesting. I want to share it with my friends, so I'll post a photo of the resume on social media using a private account!

Possible copyright infringement!

​Do not post teaching materials or documents used or distributed in classes or exams to SNS without permission. Also, get permission before posting illustrations or photos of others that you have saved online. Even if you post something thinking "It's okay because only my friends will see it," once it has been shared, you won't know who has seen it.

Case 2: A junior in student club has caused trouble, so as the club leader, I want to give him a stern warning. In order to get other members to be careful, I'll send a warning to the junior by name on the SNS group that everyone is on.

This may be a violation of our university's "Guidelines for preventing harassment"!

As a general rule, a warning addressed to an individual and a reminder to members should be sent separately. Sending a reprimand or warning to a specific individual to a social networking group or mailing list, including third parties, without a reasonable cause may constitute harassmentregardless of the intent or validity of the content.​

In addition, it is also inappropriate to frequently send emails to individuals late at night or on holidays, demanding immediate replies or responses. In particular, if there is a hierarchical relationship between a senior and a junior, be considerate of the other person's time, position, and feelings.

Case 3: Post a group photo on social media to Student Clubs Introductions! There are a lot of people, andit would be a hassle to ask each person if it's okay to post it, so let's just post it as is.

This may constitute a violation of rights such as portrait rights!

Posting photos or videos of people other than yourself on social media without their permission, where they are clearly identifiable, may be a violation of their portrait rights and other rights. A photo posted without any malicious intent may lead to slander against the person in the photo, and if it develops into a problem, you may be sued for large amounts of damages. Always check with people in the photo or video to see if it is OK to post them, and be sure to get permission before posting. Also, if there are many people in the photo, such as when taking photos on the street or at Waseda Festival, be sure to take measures such as blurring the background and faces.

Case 4: The seminar drinking party the other day was so much fun! Everyone got drunk and got carried away, causing trouble for the establishment, but let’s post photos and videos of the event on social media to commemorate the fun memories!

This may constitute the spread of illegal or unlawful activities!

Posting photos or videos on social networking sites that are disruptive or suggest involvement in public places, or that appear to be illegal or unfair, even in private, is conduct that could cause trouble. When posting on social networking sites, be aware that "once something is posted, it cannot be completely deleted and remains on the Internet forever, and there is a risk that it can be instantly published and spread throughout the world," and calmly consider whether it is really appropriate to post it. Remember that a single mistake can be a life-changing risk.

Case 5: I know the personal information of a student at the cram school where I work part-time. A friend from university said that he knows the student, so I'll secretly give him the student's contact information via email!

This would be a breach of confidentiality and privacy!

Do not disclose personal information or internal company or organization information obtained through part-time jobs, internships, student club activities to third parties without permission! Of course, posting it on social media is also strictly prohibited. Please keep in mind that once personal information is leaked, it cannot be retrieved and can lead to various troubles.

Other examples of actions that could lead to trouble can be found in the "Waseda University Guidelines for Preventing Problems When Using Social Media, Email, etc." Please review the guidelines and take this opportunity to review how you use SNS and email to avoid becoming a party to SNS troubles.